Rodney Terry has been named Fresno State's head men's basketball coach.

April 7, 2011

FRESNO, Calif. -
A coach who played an integral part in one of the nation's most successful college basketball programs for nearly a decade has been hired to lead the Bulldog men's basketball program. Fresno State Director of Athletics Thomas Boeh announced Thursday the hiring of former Texas assistant coach Rodney Terry as head men's basketball coach.

Terry will be the 18th head coach in Bulldog history, replacing Steve Cleveland who was reassigned within the athletics department last month. Known as an outstanding recruiting and bench coach while at Texas, Terry's resume includes coaching two national players of the year and 11 appearances in the NCAA tournament.

"I am delighted that Rodney Terry will lead our men's basketball program into the future and Mountain West Conference," said Boeh. "Over the course of his career, Rodney has clearly demonstrated a genuine commitment to institutional integrity and student-athlete welfare. Along the way he has also developed a national reputation as an excellent mentor, floor coach and recruiter. These attributes, along with his close ties to the recruiting base in the state of California, make him the perfect fit for Fresno State."

Terry recently completed his ninth season as an assistant coach at The University of Texas. In his first nine years in Austin, Terry has helped the Longhorns post a 232-80 (.744) record while making nine NCAA Tournament appearances. Texas has made four "Sweet 16" showings during his nine years, including a trip to the Final Four in 2003 and the "Elite Eight" in both 2006 and 2008.

The 232 wins mark the most number of victories in a nine-year period in school history. UT also has produced 20-win seasons in each of Terry's nine years, including a 28-8 record this past season.

"This is a good day because he's meant so much to all the people down in Texas and I know he will be a great coach at Fresno State. The way he's developed kids and turned them into men is something he does well."

Despite a class that numbered only two, the current UT freshman class of Joseph and Thompson was ranked as the No. 8 recruiting class in the country by ESPN. Texas' three-man freshman class in 2009 was ranked No. 3 nationally by Rivals.com and No. 4 by ESPNU. UT's seven-man freshman class in 2006 was tabbed the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation by both Rivals.com and Scout.com. Texas' five-man freshman class in 2004 featured three McDonald's All-Americans (Aldridge, Gibson and Williams) and was tabbed the No. 1 class in the nation by Clark Francis' Hoop Scoop.

"For everyone here in our program, this is a bittersweet day," said Texas head coach Rick Barnes. "We are so excited for Rodney as he deserves this opportunity. But at the same time, we're sad to be losing him. Rodney has been such a huge part of our program's success over the last nine years. There is no question that Rodney is more than ready for this challenge. He has been ready for an opportunity like this for a long time, but he just needed to find the right fit. Fresno State is getting a great person who does things the right way to lead its basketball program. I know Rodney will lead a great coaching staff who will hit the ground running from day one, and they will work hard every day to build a successful program."

During the last six seasons, Texas has posted a combined 161-54 (.749) record, setting the mark for most wins at UT in a six-year period. During the 2010-11 season, the Longhorns recorded a 28-8 mark, the third-most wins in a single season in school history, and advanced to the NCAA Third Round. UT's No. 8 spot in the final AP poll marked the third-highest ranking in the final AP poll in school history.

Texas climbed to the top of both major national polls (Associated Press, ESPN/USA Today Coaches) on Jan. 11, 2010, marking the first time in program history that the Horns had been the top-ranked team in the nation in either major poll. Texas held the top spot in both polls for a two-week stretch. UT set a school record for most wins in a season (31-7) in 2007-08. While using a starting rotation of four freshmen and a sophomore in 2006-07, the Horns posted a 25-10 mark and advanced to the NCAA Second Round. In 2005-06, Texas registered a 30-7 record and advanced to the NCAA "Elite Eight."

Terry will be the 18th head coach in Bulldog history.

Texas is the only school in the country that can claim two National Player of the Year award winners in the last nine years, T.J. Ford (2003) and Kevin Durant (2007). UT has had three consensus first-team All-Americans during Terry's time as an assistant (T.J. Ford in 2003, Kevin Durant in 2007 and D.J. Augustin in 2008), and Augustin claimed the Bob Cousy Award as the nation's top point guard in 2008.

"I'm happy for him," said former Longhorn and current NBA superstar Kevin Durant. "This has been a long time coming. I know he's been patient, waiting for the right opportunity. This is a good day because he's meant so much to all the people down in Texas and I know he will be a great coach at Fresno State. The way he's developed kids and turned them into men is something he does well. He's big-time at helping those guys even before I got to Texas. He's a great recruiter and always gets character guys who love to play the game. He brings something different. I'm happy and excited for him and I will follow Fresno State as much as I can."

Texas has had 10 players drafted in the eight years under Terry, including six first-round selections and four lottery picks in T.J. Ford, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Durant and D.J. Augustin. Both Aldridge (2006) and Durant (2007) were selected as the No. 2 overall picks in their respective drafts. In fact, UT became the first school to have a Top Two pick in consecutive NBA Drafts since DePaul in 1981-82.

When Augustin was selected as the No. 9 pick by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2008 NBA Draft, it completed quite a three-year run for the Longhorns at the Draft. Texas was the only school in the nation to have a Top 10 pick in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 NBA Drafts. In fact, UT became just the fourth school since 1985 (when the current draft lottery system was implemented) to produce a lottery pick in three consecutive years. Georgia Tech (1989-91), Duke (1992-95) and Connecticut (2004-06) previously accomplished the feat.

Texas had three players selected during the 2010 NBA Draft. Avery Bradley was selected with the No. 19 pick by the Boston Celtics. Damion James was taken with the No. 24 pick by the Atlanta Hawks, and his rights were later traded to the New Jersey Nets. Dexter Pittman was chosen with the No. 32 pick (second selection in the second round) by the Miami Heat. This marked the second time in school history that the Horns had three players selected in the same draft (2006) and the second time in UT history that the Longhorns had two players taken in the first round of the same draft (1990).

Terry's resume includes coaching two national players of the year and 11 appearances in the NCAA tournament.

In the classroom, Texas had four players earn a spot on the 2011 Academic All-Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Team. This marked the fourth straight year that the Horns led the league in Academic All-Big 12 honors in the sport of men's basketball. UT had six players earn the accolade in both 2008 and 2009 and five players claim a spot in 2010.

"Rodney has done a terrific job for us," said Texas Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds. "He has represented The University of Texas and this athletic department with class and integrity."

Terry joined Barnes' staff on June 11, 2002. For seven weeks prior to coming to Texas, Terry served on Jerry Wainwright's staff at the University of Richmond after spending the previous four seasons under Wainwright at UNC-Wilmington.

While at UNC-Wilmington, Terry was instrumental in helping the program produce three postseason appearances in his four seasons. The Seahawks advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 1999-2000 and 2001-02 and reached the Postseason NIT in 2000-01. During his final year with the Seahawks (2001-02), UNCW posted a 23-10 overall mark, setting a school record for victories in a season. The Seahawks also collected their first NCAA Tournament win in school history, upsetting USC 98-89 in overtime in a First Round game.

UNCW registered a record of 71-51 (.582) during Terry's four seasons. In his second year, Terry helped the Seahawks land a Top 30 recruiting class according to Hoop Scoop. In 2001-02, Terry was named the co-mid/low-major Assistant Coach of the Year by TheInsiderHoops.com, sharing the honor with Valparaiso's Scott Drew (now the head coach at Baylor).

"Rodney Terry has every quality schools look for in a Head Coach and is more than ready for this opportunity," said Judy MacLeod, Executive Associate Commissioner of Conference USA and former director of athletics at Tulsa. "The team, University and community will love his positive energy, work ethic, genuine concern for others and great character. Adding all of that to his ability to communicate, recruit and coach. Fresno State has made a terrific selection to lead their program."

Prior to joining the staff at UNCW, Terry served two years as an assistant coach at Baylor (1996-98). He spent one season (1995-96) as the varsity coach at Angleton (Texas) High School and two years as the head coach at Somerville (Texas) High School. Terry posted a 15-13 mark at Angleton and a 49-21 overall record at Somerville, where he led the school to the Class 2A state semifinals in 1993-94. He also worked for two years (1991-93) as an assistant coach at Austin Bowie (Texas) High School.

Terry started his coaching career as an assistant coach at his alma mater, St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. He worked for one season (1990-91) at St. Edward's before moving on to his post at Bowie High.

Terry graduated from St. Edward's University in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and a minor in physical education. During his collegiate career, he was a three-year starter at point guard and a three-time Academic All-Big State Conference selection. The Hilltoppers won the Big State Conference title during his freshman season in 1986-87, and he also served as team captain during his junior and senior campaigns.

Born March 27, 1968, Terry is a native of Angleton, Texas.

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